I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean the
bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant if out
of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this bed? Thanks
I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and there is just
so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

Dig them out and if you can place them in damp potting soil, most likly
you'll be needing to split the rhizomes with a sharp knife to be able to
start many more. Rototill the bed and rototill some alfafa pellets into the
soil, then space the iris out and replant them as soon as you can, Iris
don't go dorment at all, and don't trim the fans, they are needed for making
food for the next years blooms.

After this has all been done, there is a chance you may not get full blooms
next year, but the next year should be awesome. Also some steer manure
lightly mixed into the soil helps too.

grow close to 300 iris out here in the High Mojave Desert.

"Laura Gilbert" wrote in message
news:BZMhe.7954$cf5.86@lakeread07...
I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean the
bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant if out
of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this bed?
Thanks I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and there
is just so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

Thank you so much, I guess it is time to get busy and clean up that bed!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA


"Starlord" wrote in message
...
Dig them out and if you can place them in damp potting soil, most likly
you'll be needing to split the rhizomes with a sharp knife to be able to
start many more. Rototill the bed and rototill some alfafa pellets into
the soil, then space the iris out and replant them as soon as you can,
Iris don't go dorment at all, and don't trim the fans, they are needed for
making food for the next years blooms.

After this has all been done, there is a chance you may not get full
blooms next year, but the next year should be awesome. Also some steer
manure lightly mixed into the soil helps too.

grow close to 300 iris out here in the High Mojave Desert.

"Laura Gilbert" wrote in message
news:BZMhe.7954$cf5.86@lakeread07...
I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean
the bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant
if out of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this
bed? Thanks I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and
there is just so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

"Starlord" wrote in message
...


grow close to 300 iris out here in the High Mojave Desert.



Starlord,
I'm moving to the AZ desert (I guess it is Sonoran desert), 2700' elevation,
summers long and hot. I'd love to take some of the iris I am growing in
Portland to transplant down there but am not sure they will survive the
climate. What is the summer like where you are growing yours?
Karen

Weather here in summer is Hot and Dry, and can at times be windy. I use the
local dirt and make it into built up beds about 3inch high. I plant the iris
and I put a thin layer of dirt over the rhizome to keep it from being dryed
out by the sun. When I build the bed, I put down newspaper or even carpet to
help hold water in the soil, then a layer of steer manuer and then the dirt.
I have almost 200ft of water hose I use to even reach my garden and I use a
slow soak way of watering, ( this trailer park has it's own wells ). Also I
use Alfafa hay to make tea for feeding and I mix in the leftover hay ( you
can use pellets or cubes ) mixed into the dirt too. My iris do good and they
bloom like mad.

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...

"Starlord" wrote in message
...
Starlord,
I'm moving to the AZ desert (I guess it is Sonoran desert), 2700'
elevation, summers long and hot. I'd love to take some of the iris I am
growing in Portland to transplant down there but am not sure they will
survive the climate. What is the summer like where you are growing yours?
Karen

Thanks for the information. Guess it won't hurt to give it a try!
Karen


"Starlord" wrote in message
...
Weather here in summer is Hot and Dry, and can at times be windy. I use
the local dirt and make it into built up beds about 3inch high. I plant
the iris and I put a thin layer of dirt over the rhizome to keep it from
being dryed out by the sun. When I build the bed, I put down newspaper or
even carpet to help hold water in the soil, then a layer of steer manuer
and then the dirt. I have almost 200ft of water hose I use to even reach
my garden and I use a slow soak way of watering, ( this trailer park has
it's own wells ). Also I use Alfafa hay to make tea for feeding and I mix
in the leftover hay ( you can use pellets or cubes ) mixed into the dirt
too. My iris do good and they bloom like mad.

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...

"Starlord" wrote in message
...
Starlord,
I'm moving to the AZ desert (I guess it is Sonoran desert), 2700'
elevation, summers long and hot. I'd love to take some of the iris I am
growing in Portland to transplant down there but am not sure they will
survive the climate. What is the summer like where you are growing yours?
Karen

--

David E. Ross
URL:http://www.rossde.com/

I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that
complies with Web standards. See URL:http://www.mozilla.org/.

Laura Gilbert wrote:

I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean the
bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant if out
of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this bed? Thanks
I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and there is just
so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

The best time to dig and divide rhizome iris is about the second
week after you first see new bare-root rhizomes for sale in your
local nursery. The best way to do it is to replant within the same
day or at least within 2-3 days. If you must keep the rhizomes out
of the ground, keep them in a cool, dark place, slightly damp but
not wet.

For details, see my
URL:http://www.rossde.com/garden/garden_divide_iris.html.

--

David E. Ross
URL:http://www.rossde.com/

I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that
complies with Web standards. See URL:http://www.mozilla.org/.

David, Thanks so much for the information. I am trying to read and gather
as much as I can. I think the advice I am receiving here will give me the
confidence to take care of these beautiful plants.

Laura in Chesapeake, VA


"David Ross" wrote in message
...
Laura Gilbert wrote:

I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean
the
bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant if
out
of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this bed?
Thanks
I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and there is
just
so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

The best time to dig and divide rhizome iris is about the second
week after you first see new bare-root rhizomes for sale in your
local nursery. The best way to do it is to replant within the same
day or at least within 2-3 days. If you must keep the rhizomes out
of the ground, keep them in a cool, dark place, slightly damp but
not wet.

For details, see my
URL:http://www.rossde.com/garden/garden_divide_iris.html.

--

David E. Ross
URL:http://www.rossde.com/

I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that
complies with Web standards. See URL:http://www.mozilla.org/.

I dug up 2 overgrown clumps about 3 or 4 years ago and ended up with
hundreds of iris. You will be amazed as you start digging them up how
many more you really have. It is a good idea ask some friends if they
would like to share the bounty.

I am in the process of dividing again and have already given to garden
clubs, garden sales, friends and strangers. Still have too many!

My recipe for dividing: carefully dig up with a spading fork and
separate; cut the leaves down by 1/2 or 1/3 into a fan shape and stack
in the shade. This will put vigor into the roots by not having to
support the tall leaves.

When you are replanting: Make a 'sausage' roll of dirt, place the
rhizome on top so the roots hang down. Then cover the roots and about
1/2 to 2/3 of the rhizome. You want to see the top of the rhizome
sticking out of the dirt, like a hippo bathing. It is like a
photovoltaic cell: the sun goes in the exposed rhizome and the flower
comes out the end.

You'll get different ideas from different people, but this has really
worked for me. This year people stopped to take pictures of my sea of iris!

also check out http://www.gertens.com/articles/peren-transplant.html

Laura Gilbert wrote:
I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean the
bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant if out
of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this bed? Thanks
I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and there is just
so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

Sterling,

Now I am really excited - I don't think you can have too many of these
beautiful plants! Hopefully they are plentiful under some of those weeds!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA


"Sterling" wrote in message
...
I dug up 2 overgrown clumps about 3 or 4 years ago and ended up with
hundreds of iris. You will be amazed as you start digging them up how many
more you really have. It is a good idea ask some friends if they would like
to share the bounty.

I am in the process of dividing again and have already given to garden
clubs, garden sales, friends and strangers. Still have too many!

My recipe for dividing: carefully dig up with a spading fork and separate;
cut the leaves down by 1/2 or 1/3 into a fan shape and stack in the shade.
This will put vigor into the roots by not having to support the tall
leaves.

When you are replanting: Make a 'sausage' roll of dirt, place the rhizome
on top so the roots hang down. Then cover the roots and about 1/2 to 2/3
of the rhizome. You want to see the top of the rhizome sticking out of the
dirt, like a hippo bathing. It is like a photovoltaic cell: the sun goes
in the exposed rhizome and the flower comes out the end.

You'll get different ideas from different people, but this has really
worked for me. This year people stopped to take pictures of my sea of
iris!

also check out http://www.gertens.com/articles/peren-transplant.html

Laura Gilbert wrote:
I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean
the bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant
if out of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this
bed? Thanks I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener
and there is just so much to learn!

Laura in Chesapeake, VA

Do NOT cut the fans, to do that is to rob the iris of food making. I have
never cut mine back and every year I move and or thin some iris and by
leaving the fans uncut, once they have been planted and watered good, they
spring back and by winter time have started growing new eyes for new plants.
Only time I cut back any is during the heat of the summer time and that's
just to trim the heat burned tips of the fans.

I've gotten iris from other growers who where getting rid of that one iris
for resasons of their own and none of them have ever had the fans cut down.

The Rosamond Home for Unwanted and Orpaned Plants.

"Sterling" wrote in message
...
I dug up 2 overgrown clumps about 3 or 4 years ago and ended up with
hundreds of iris. You will be amazed as you start digging them up how many
more you really have. It is a good idea ask some friends if they would like
to share the bounty.

I have trimmed back the damaged tips of the plants, but have not ever just
cut them all back. I try to reach in to the bed and remove the leaves that
have died back, just to kind of clean things up. Great advice, I will add
that to the other messages. This is such a great source of information, you
have all been very helpful.

Thanks so much,

Laura in Chesapeake, VA


"Starlord" wrote in message
...
Do NOT cut the fans, to do that is to rob the iris of food making. I have
never cut mine back and every year I move and or thin some iris and by
leaving the fans uncut, once they have been planted and watered good, they
spring back and by winter time have started growing new eyes for new
plants. Only time I cut back any is during the heat of the summer time and
that's just to trim the heat burned tips of the fans.

I've gotten iris from other growers who where getting rid of that one iris
for resasons of their own and none of them have ever had the fans cut
down.

The Rosamond Home for Unwanted and Orpaned Plants.

"Sterling" wrote in message
...
I dug up 2 overgrown clumps about 3 or 4 years ago and ended up with
hundreds of iris. You will be amazed as you start digging them up how many
more you really have. It is a good idea ask some friends if they would
like to share the bounty.

I cut mine back because that was the advice I got - I did a net search
and many places said to cut the fans back - that said I have also
'thrown clumps' in odd spaces intending to go back and plant them and
the 'thrown', unclipped and 'unplanted' iris did just file. They are
what my Granddad called 'soldiers'!

Where did the clipping advice start? Maybe for shipping?

But I did cut about 200 of them into fans when I moved them the first
time and they did just fine too. Go figure!

Starlord wrote:
Do NOT cut the fans, to do that is to rob the iris of food making. I have
never cut mine back and every year I move and or thin some iris and by
leaving the fans uncut, once they have been planted and watered good, they
spring back and by winter time have started growing new eyes for new plants.
Only time I cut back any is during the heat of the summer time and that's
just to trim the heat burned tips of the fans.

I've gotten iris from other growers who where getting rid of that one iris
for resasons of their own and none of them have ever had the fans cut down.

The Rosamond Home for Unwanted and Orpaned Plants.

"Sterling" wrote in message
...

I dug up 2 overgrown clumps about 3 or 4 years ago and ended up with
hundreds of iris. You will be amazed as you start digging them up how many
more you really have. It is a good idea ask some friends if they would like
to share the bounty.

"Laura Gilbert" wrote in message
news:BZMhe.7954$cf5.86@lakeread07...
I have an Iris bed that has become over grown. To really get in there an
clear the bed, I want to dig up all the Iris, (after they bloom), clean
the
bed and then replant the Iris. My question is, will they go dormant if
out
of the soil for 1 or 2 weeks, should I wait longer to redo this bed?
Thanks
I look forward to your help, I am a really newbie gardener and there is
just
so much to learn!

The rule of thumb for bearded iris is to dig and divide about 6 to 8 weeks
after they bloom. Mine are starting to bloom now. I generally try to
divide them in August - or no later than Labor day. Iris are very sturdy
plants. I have seen some that were dug and left on the surface accidentally
that survived the winter and bloomed the next year, so I wouldn't worry
about getting them back in the ground immediately. A large nursery
(Springhill) dug their iris and replanted their display garden a couple of
years ago. They left the iris on the ground for several weeks before
replanting them.

I would divide them into clumps with three or four fans each. You can make
a mound and drape the roots over it, with the top of the rhizome slightly
above the soil when you backfill. Some people mound the soil over the
rhizome temporarily to stabilize it while the roots are reestablishing.
Once you can tug on the plant and it resists, you need to uncover the top of
the rhizome.